Combination container and material compacting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A demountable truck body of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;roll-on/roll-off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type constructed with a false bottom forming a sump for trapping liquid drained from the material loaded in the body and a load material compaction unit associated with the truck body. The compaction unit includes a compacting plate which serves the dual purpose of (1) a compacting element for the compaction unit to compact material into the truck body while it is &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;set-off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and (2) a door for the charging opening of the truck body after it is filled. The compacting plate is adapted to be alternately removably attached to the compaction unit and to the truck body over the charging opening.

1451 Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 COMBINATION CONTAINER AND MATERIAL COMPACTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Thomas E. 0rd. 2410 Cook St..

Denver. Colo. 80216 [22] Filed: Sept. 8. 1969 {21] Appl. No.; 856.067

[52] U.S. Cl. 100/100: 100/229 A; 100/295; 214/505; 214/5171292/304 [51} Int. Cl B301) 15/06 [58] Field of Search 214/82; 296/38. 100/229. 100/229 A. 100. 245. 295; 292/221. 229. 304

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 153.349 7/1874 Kirtley 100/229 X 698.506 4/1902 lllingworth 100/229 1.053.795 2/1913 Ellis 296/38 1.088.104 2/1914 Sharpm. 214/82 X 1.133.254 3/1915 Backus 292/304 3.129.657 4/1964 Farley et a1 100/229 X 3.212.656 10/1965 Kamin 296/38 3.229.618 1/1966 OConnor 100/229 X 3.229.622 1/1966 French ct a1 100/229 X 3.490.631 1/1970 Smith 100/229 U X 3.507.410 4/1970 Liherman et al7 100/229 X 3.511.176 5/1970 Szaj et .11. nun/229 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 296.165 8/1928 United Kingdom 292/304 1.216.063 4/1960 France 292/304 Primary E.mmiiwr-Bill .l. Wilhite Almnwy. Agent. or Firm-Sheridan. Ross 8: Fields [57] ABSTRACT A demountable truck body of the "roll-on/roll-off" type constructed with a false bottom forming a sump for trapping liquid drained from the material loaded in the body and a load material compaction unit associated with the truck body The compaction unit includes a compacting plate which serves the dual purpose of 1 a compacting element for the compaction unit to compact material into the truck body while it is set-off and (2) a door for the charging opening of the truck body after it is filled. The compacting plate is adapted to be alternately removahly attached to the compaction unit and to the truck body over the charging opening.

3 Claims. 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED Z 3.880.072

SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR THOMAS E. 0RD

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAmmms SHEEI 3 BF 3 INVENTOR THOMAS E ORD 7m FA JMQ" ATTORNEYS wh Ow i ul m v9 COMBINATION (ONTAINER ANI) MATERIAL COMPACTING APPARATUS SUMMARY ()F THF. INVENTION This invention relates to demountable or rollon/roll-ofl truck bodies provided with a sump in the bottom area for trapping liquids draining from the loaded material. and with means for compacting material loaded into the truck bodies.

In order to realize maximum use of expensive trucks. the refuse hauling industry has adopted the use of demountable dump bodies which can be parked for loading at localities from which refuse must be hauled to a dump. and the truck and chassis kept in use while the body is being filled. This permits a large number ofdcmountable dump bodies to be serviced by a single truck. The truck chassis is provided with a tilt frame for loading and unloading the truck body on the chassis.

When a demountable truck body is hauled onto and removed from the chassis. it assumes an angle of causing liquid drained from the loaded material to flow to the lower internal aft area of the truck body. There it reaches a level at which it flows through the charging opening and escapes around the door. These leakage areas cannot be adequately closed or gasketed in the usual demountable truck body to prevent the escape of these liquids.

Obviously. if maximum efficient use is obtained from the expensive truck and demountable body. the body should be loaded as near to maximum capacity as possi ble before it is transported to the dump site. A large percentage of refuse is comprised of hollow. frangible articles. such as. pasteboard boxes and like articles. which should be compacted into the loading space of the truck body during loading to prevent waste of space.

Accordingly. it is an object of this invention to provide a dcmountable truck body in which accumulated liquid drained from material loaded in the truck body is maintained out of contact with leakage areas or in which the contact of the liquid with such areas is re duced to a minimum.

It is another object ofthis invention to provide an effective means for compaepng material into a truck body as it is being filled.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a compaction plate which alternatively functions as a door for the charging openirfg of the truck body.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational fragmentary view of a chassis section and partially schematic showing ofa demountable truck body being drawn onto the chassis;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the dump body of the invention with the charging hopper attached and partially cut away at the rear to show internal structure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the charging hopper and compacting mechanism oriented with respect to the aft end of the dump body;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the dump body with the charging hopper attached with an area of the side of the hopper cut away to show internal structure;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. I. there is shown a truck chassis represented generally at I0 provided with a tilt frame 12 rotatably mounted at the rear end of the chassis as shown. The tilt table I2 is rotated by hydraulic cylinder I4 rotatably attached at one end to the bottom of the tilt table by attachment I6 and rotatably attached by its other end to heavy lish plate I8 which is secured to one side of chassis It]. When the tilt table is in its lowered position hydraulic cylinder I4 will rest along the side of the chassis as shown.

A cable winch 20 is mounted on the front end of tilt table 12 and actuated by conventional power means. not shown. the winch cable 22 being attachable to ring 24 on the front of damp body 26 for hauling the dump body onto or lowering it off of the chassis along the tilt table 12. The ring 24 and/or other suitable attaching means can also be used to secure the dump body onto the chassis after it has been hauled thereon.

Two channel members 28 extending the length of the dump body are secured to the bottom of the dump body. Ramp castors 30 are rotatably mounted on the channel member 28 and ride in the two tilt frame tracks 32 of the tilt table I2 as the dump body is hauled on and lowered off the tilt table. A track flange 34 is mounted outwardly ofeach track 32 to insure retention of the dump body 26 on the tracks 32 as it moves over them. Other conventional means. such as skids. can be used for moving the dump body onto the tilt table.

The dump body 26 is of rectangular construction with floor or bottom 36. sides. from and rear ends and a top. A sump 38 is constructed below floor or bottom 36 by the addition of false bottom 39 to form a shallow longitudinal drain compartment for trapping liquid draining from material compacted into the dump body. When the dump body is set-off on level ground the upper surface of the bottom 36 slopes to the front of the dump body so that liquid from the load will drain through forwardly installed drain holes 42 (FIG. 2) into sump 38. The forward sloping of bottom 36 is attained by use of front transporting caster wheels 44 of smaller diameter than rear transporting caster wheels 46. It may also be attained by constructing the front end of bottom 36 lower than the rear end. The transporting caster wheels 44-46 support the dump body on ground tracks 48. The sump 38 is sealed at its rear end by wall 49 and is provided with a pipe nipple 50 for draining. The bottom 36 is reinforced by spaced longitudinal beam members 5| (FIG. 5). The dump body is provided with a rear door 52 for dumping which has a charging opening 53 for compacting material into the dump body. The charging opening is closed with a combination removable door and compaction plate as explained later. The opening for the rear door may be the charging opening thus eliminating a charging opening in the door.

In FIG. I the dotted line 54 represents the approximate level which accumulated liquid assumes in the usual detachable clump body without a sump during hauling of the dump body onto a truck chassis. The liquid flows through the charging opening 53 and leaks through the space between the door 52 and the body frame defining the discharge opening. The resulting large leakage area is difficult to close and would require extensive seals. When a combination removable door and compactor plate is used to close the charging opening, as in this invention. it is practically impossible to seal the leakage area between the door and opening. The described sump of this invention traps the drained and accumulated liquid so that there is practically no liquid above the sump when the dump body is in use.

This eliminates the necessity of seals around the discharge opening and eliminates leakage of liquid through the charging opening. Plugged openings can be provided in the end wall 49 for cleaning the sump. The end wall 49 can be eliminated and the aft end of the sump closed by discharge opening door 52 and suitable seals.

The sump body is particularly effective when used in conjunction with a loading ramp having one end ele vated, such as the tilt table 12, as elevation of the front end of the usual demountable body having a charging opening centrally located in the discharge door results in leakage around the charging door. while leakage in this area is eliminated with the sump construction.

In FIG. 2 a compacting unit and support structure represented generally at 55., is shown secured to set-off dump body 26 by means of turnbuckles 56 on either side secured at one end to compacting unit 55 through trunnions 58 and at the other end to dump body 26 through securing pins 60 supported by trunnions 62 attached to the sides of dump body 26.

As will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4 the dump body 26 is reinforced throughout with external hollow rectangular support ribs 64. The door 52 covering the discharge opening and provided with a charging opening 53 (FIGS. 3. is conventionally mounted by hinges 72 (FIG. 5) to the aft end of the dump body. The door is securely closed (FIG. 4) by latch arms 74 hooking over latch pieces 76 on door 52. Latch arms 74 are pivotally mounted to dump body 26 by latch arm pins 78. The latch arms 74 are pivotally mounted at their front ends by link pins 80 to vertical link 82 which is pivotally secured at it lower end by lever pin 84 to door locking and unlocking lever 86 which is secured at its rear end to body 26 by pin 87 so that when lever 86 is raised vertical link 82 moves upwardly to rotate latch arms 74 clockwise to engage latch pieces 76. Lowering of lever 86 rotates arms 74 in the reverse direction to disengage them from latch pieces 76.

Referring to FIG. 5, a combination charging door and compactor plate assembly 87 is removably mounted in charging opening 53 by a pin linkage system represented generally by the numeral 88. A rotatable mounting plate 90 having push rods 92 and 94 pivotally mounted thereon by their inner end is rotated by handle 96. Lever arms 98 and 100 pivotally connected by their upper ends to the outer ends of push rods 92 and 94, respectively. and rotatably mounted by lever pins I02 and 103 to rear door 52 are pivotally connected by their lower ends to locking pins 104 and I05, respectively. which reciprocate in mating holes in ribs 64 on door 52 and combination compactor and door assembly 87 to lock and unlock charging opening door 87 in the charging opening. The combination compactor plate and charging opening door 87 is comprised of the assembly of compactor plate 142 and its support frame 144 (FIG. 3), the numeral 87 identifying the assembly when it is used either as a door or compactor plate.

For purposes which will be explained later there is mounted on the combination door and compactor plate assembly 87 a knife latch I06 pivotally mounted by knife latch pin 108 to door 87 with its lower end biased to the right by spring 110 anchored by one end to the lower end of knife latch 106 and by the other end to rib 64 on door 87. A push rod 111 is pivotally mounted at its inner end by pin I12 and clevis 114 to knife latch I06 with its outer end extending into guide tube 116 on door 87 for reciprocation therein. Door stops I 18 (FIGv 6) having door edge guide surfaces I20 are secured to ribs 64 forming the edges of charging opening 53 (FIG. 3) by welding. There are four door stops II8 positioned to be contacted by each corner of the packing plate to maintain it in the proper orientation. A slotted tube 122 (FIGS. 3, 5). for a purpose to be later described. is secured centrally on the outer surface of combination door and compactor plate 87. After door 87 has been inserted into charging opening 53 with handle 96 moved clockwise to the right with locking pins I04 and correspondingly moved outwardly to their unlocked position, handle 96 is moved counterclockwise to the left to correspondingly move locking pins I04 and 105 inwardly through linkage 88 to their locking position to lock door 87 in place. The free end of locking pin 105 (FIG. 5) is in contact with the free end of push rod lII so that as push rod III is reciprocated by locking pin I05, the knife latch is correspondingly rotated left and right around latch pin 108. Obviously, the construction can be modified so that the other locking pin 104 will actuate the knife latch 106 rather than locking pin I05.

The compactor or compacting unit and its operation will now be described. Referring to FIG. 3, the compactor unit comprises a material receiving hopper 124, a combination charging door and compactor plate assembly 87. and a guide frame assembly I26. When the unit is assembled the assemblies 87 and 126 are housed in hopper I24 which is mounted on a support section I28 (FIG. 4) provided with casters I30 adapted to travel on tracks 48.

Hopper 124 is of rectangular configuration and is constructed with loading opening I38 and guide channels in the internal surfaces of its sides. The compactor plate assembly comprises compactor plate I42 and support frame I44 to which the compactor plate is secured by welding or otherwise. Guide frame assembly 126 (FIG. 3) is comprised of guide frame I46, hydraulic cylinder I48 and locking shaft (FIG. 6). Guide frame 146 is of reinforced construction and has the forward end of piston I52 of hydraulic cylinder I48 attached to its forward section by a pin (not shown) passing through the hole 154 and the clevis arrangement 156. Other conventional means may be used to attach the forward end of the telescoping cylinder to the guide frame. Guides or guide rails 158 are attached to the sides of guide frame I46 in positions corresponding to those of guide channels 140 in hopper 124.

Locking shaft 150 secured to the forward section of guide frame 146 has a slot I60 (FIG. 6) near its forward end. The shaft 150 is adapted to fit in tube 122 on compactor plate 142 which is provided with a slot 162 (FIG. 6) corresponding to slot 160. When the shaft 150 is inserted in tube I22 and the slots I60 and I62 are in'register the compactor plate assembly 87 can be locked to guide frame I46 by seating of knife latch 106 in the slots.

When the compacting unit is assembled the guide rails I58 fit in guide channels 140 and the upper end of hydraulic cylinder 148 is secured to the undersurface of hopper 124 by clevis-like attachment I64 (FIG. 4). The hydraulic cylinder 148 is actuated by conventional power means not shown.

The mounting of dump body 26 and the compacting unit on level rails 48 (FIG. 4) serves to align the combination interchangeable door and compactor plate 87 in the charging opening 53 so that locking pins 104, 105 are aligned with corresponding locking holes in the combination door 87 including the alignment of locking pin 105 with tube 1 16. it also serves to align combination door 87 into position for locking onto the compactor unit with slotted tube 122 on the door and slotted shaft 150 on guide frame 146 of the compactor (FIG. 3) aligned. It would be extremely difficult to position the heavy dump body and compactor with respect to each other by other means so that the various locking means are properly aligned.

The operation of the compacting unit is as follows: after the demountable body 26 is set off on rails 48 for filling. the compacting unit is secured to it by turnbuckles 56. At this time the door 87 is secured in the charging opening 53 by the linkage system 88 in the position shown in FIG. 5 with knife latch 106 held clear of tube 122 by push rod 111. The hydraulic cylinder 148 and its associated control mechanism. to be explained below, is actuated to move guide frame assembly 126 forward and position shaft 150 in tube 122 where it is held by control of the cylinder operation until handle 96 is moved clockwise to withdraw locking pins 104 and 105. When locking pin 105 moves outwardly to the unlocked position, knife latch 106 will be forced and held into mating slots 160 and 162 by spring 110 thus securely locking the combination charging door and compactor plate assembly 87 to guide frame 146 where it now functions as a compactor plate. The cylinder is then actuated to move the guide frame assembly with the compactor plate assembly attached to the position shown in FIG. 4 aft of loading opening 138, where it remains ready to compact material placed in the hopper 124 into the dump body 26 through charging opening 53.

After the demountable dump body 26 is filled the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to position combination door and compactor plate 87 in charging opening 53 where it is maintained under pressure by the hydraulic cylinder and a relief valve arrangement to be explained later until lever 96 can be moved counterclockwise to lock the door 87 in position as previously explained. When locking pin 105 moves inwardly in guide tube 116 to lock the door 87 in the charging opening, push rod 111 is moved to the left to rotate knife latch 106 clockwise out of slots 160 and 162 to unlock shaft 150 from tube 122. The result is that the assembly 87 is securely locked in opening 53 and the guide frame is unlatched from the assembly 87 so that the dump body can be transported to the dump with the charging opening 53 closed.

The hydraulic cylinder 148, and consequently, the compactor assembly, is powered by an electricalhydraulic system. It is a simple, standard hydraulic sys tem consisting of the usual electric motor driven pump, solenoid actuated valve, manual and pressure switches. A manual electric switch actuates the system to cause the hydraulic cylinder to push the guide frame 126 with the compactor plate assembly 87 attached to a forward position in the hopper. Upon completion of this for ward stroke during the compacting operation. there is a sudden increase in line pressure which actuates a line pressure switch causing the solenoid valve to operate and reverse the direction of movement of the cylinder by reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder. Thus, the hopper area is cleared and is ready for the deposit of additional materials through loading opening 138 to be compacted into the dump body.

To separate the combination door and compactor plate 87 from the guide frame 146 and lock it in the charging opening 53, a manual switch is first operated to prevent the solenoid valve from operating so that the cylinder remains extended in the forward position so that the combination compaction plate and door is pushed and held in position in opening 53 against door stops 118 (FIG. 6) until the operator moves handle 96 counterclockwise to the locking position. As explained above. this action forces the knife latch 106 out of locking position so that the assembly 87 is separated from the guide frame 146. During this holding operation. the pump continues to operate with the fluid circulating through the relief valve.

1 claim:

1. A combination container and load material compacting apparatus therefor comprising: a receptacle having a charging opening therein; a compactor for compacting material into said receptacle; a combination interchangeable door for said charging opening and compactor plate for said compactor; first locking means for locking said combination door and compactor plate in said charging opening; second locking means for locking said plate to said compactor; said first and second locking means operating so that as one moves to its locking and unlocking positions the other moves to its unlocking and locking positions, respectively; said first locking means including locking pins operated by a linkage system and said second locking means including a slotted shaft on said compactor, a slotted tube on said compactor plate and a knife latch adapted to move into locking position in said slots when they are in register and to unlocking position out of said slots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including aligned tracks on which said container and said load material compacting apparatus are positioned to provide for alignment of said combination door and compactor plate into locking position with said locking pins aligned with locking holes on said door, and into locking position on said compactor with said slotted shaft and slotted tube in alignment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including biasing means for biasing said knife latch into locking position, one of said locking pins on movement to locking position is operative to move said knife latch to unlocking position against said biasing means and upon movement to unlocking position permits said biasing means to move said knife latch to locking position. 

1. A combination container and load material compacting apparatus therefor comprising: a receptacle having a charging opening therein; a compactor for compacting material into said receptacle; a combination interchangeable door for said charging opening and compactor plate for said compactor; first locking means for locking said combination door and compactor pLate in said charging opening; second locking means for locking said plate to said compactor; said first and second locking means operating so that as one moves to its locking and unlocking positions the other moves to its unlocking and locking positions, respectively; said first locking means including locking pins operated by a linkage system and said second locking means including a slotted shaft on said compactor, a slotted tube on said compactor plate and a knife latch adapted to move into locking position in said slots when they are in register and to unlocking position out of said slots.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including aligned tracks on which said container and said load material compacting apparatus are positioned to provide for alignment of said combination door and compactor plate into locking position with said locking pins aligned with locking holes on said door, and into locking position on said compactor with said slotted shaft and slotted tube in alignment.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including biasing means for biasing said knife latch into locking position, one of said locking pins on movement to locking position is operative to move said knife latch to unlocking position against said biasing means and upon movement to unlocking position permits said biasing means to move said knife latch to locking position. 